AS Hereford United face being wound up in the courts, a Hereford Times investigation reveals that club chairman Andy Lonsdale has been involved previously with 27 companies that have been dissolved – with debts totalling more than £7million.

Lonsdale was appointed as a director at Hereford United (1939) Limited last week, with his occupation being classed as “salesman”.

The 50-year-old becomes the third director at the company after passing the FA’s owners’ and directors’ (ODT) test. But documents obtained from Companies House have left some Bulls supporters concerned.

Lonsdale became a director of Keepsake Recycling Limited on September 1, 2002, but the company was dissolved four years later. According to an administrator’s progress report provided by Vantis Redhead French Limited for the period of June 14, 2005 and December 13, 2005, the total estimated deficiency of the company was nearly £1.5million.

The non-preferential creditors included HMRC, with an estimated £268,266 owed to them. Two months after becoming a director at that company, Lonsdale was appointed to the board of Transdem Services Ltd.

But that firm ended up being liquidated, with debts accumulating to £1.25million. According to liquidator Philip Gautier, furniture and equipment were sold to Lonsdale Construction Services Limited on June 11, 2013 for £1,500 plus VAT, but no payment had been received as of May 14 this year.

“As a result of lack of payment and co-operation generally from Mr Lonsdale, I have had to instruct my agents Marcus Matthews and Associates to threaten the removal of the goods and subsequent legal action to obtain further payments,” said Gautier.

Another firm that left debts of more than £1million were Seagrave Environmental Limited.

That company had liabilities (fixed charge creditors) of £785,301, with “unsecured creditors” totalling £458,590.

Associated Tippers (2000) Limited, which was dissolved in March 2007, had unsecured creditors totalling just over £1million as of September 24, 2006, while Clearway Recycling Limited owed creditors £545,149 and T.A.L.L. Contracts Limited had an estimated total deficiency of £426,833 at the time of it being wound up.

Trans-Cart Limited had liabilities totalling £375,467, Old Oak Joinery Limited owed creditors more than £300,000, Middlesex Haulage Limited had liabilities of £238,985 and Associated Demolition and Construction Services Limited had an unsecured creditors list totalling £120,000. There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Lonsdale in connection with any of his business dealings.

In response Lonsdale said “his past is the past” and the current regime have put £600,000 into the club.

“All we are trying to do is preserve the history and heritage of the club,” said Lonsdale, who added he works two or three days a week for nothing.

The incoming investment, according to Lonsdale, will be sorted by the time the club are back in court on December 1, adding that HMRC will be paid.

The FA said they cannot comment on individual cases, but their ODT regulations can be found at thefa.com/football-rules-governance/more/financial-regulation

The Hereford Times is also awaiting a comment from majority shareholder Alan McCarthy three weeks after emailing him.